March 19-23: Spring Elementary Parent-Teacher Conference Week. All elementary students, with the exception of afternoon kindergarten students at some schools, will be dismissed at 1:30 pm that week. PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR SCHOOL SITE TO CONFIRM DISMISSAL TIMES FOR TK AND KINDERGARTEN. Please note that spring conferences are optional. If the teacher needs to conference with you, they will let you know.

March 26-30: Spring Break. No school for all district students.

UPDATES

TK/Kindergarten Registration

Transitional Kindergarten (TK)/ Kindergarten registration is February 14. Enrollment/Registration takes place at your ‘neighborhood’ school according to your physical home address or at the choice program to which you are enrolling. For times and details about Kindergarten registration and information nights please clickKinder Information. Information about Transitional Kindergarten, please visit Transitional Kindergarten (TK).

When registering a child for kindergarten, parents should bring the following required documents:

Legal verification of the child’s date of birth

Immunization records

Proof of residence (Current PG&E bill or Water bill AND lease agreement or escrow papers in parent/guardian name)

Parent/Guardian identification (e.g., CA driver’s license, Other)

DJUSD has an employee compensation gap and a strategic goal to close it.

The following information is being shared with you to help to answer the question, “How will DJUSD close the compensation gap?” Read more here about how we plan to address this top priority issue.

All Student Center Opens at Davis Senior High

On January 10, students at DSHS were given tours of the new All Student Center. They were able to try the great food and get a closer look at the career center that is located in the ASC. The new student facility also features an additional classroom and study spaces. The ASC is currently open to students, however the official dedication of the ASC is being held on February 7.

Apply for the State Seal of Biliteracy

Graduating seniors who have attained a high level of proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in a language other than English, may be eligible to receive the State Seal of Biliteracy upon graduation! More information on the SSB eligibility and to access the application please visit the English Learners website. Applications must be submitted to mgonzalez@djusd.net by March 16.

Attendance Matters!

Showing up for school has a significant impact on academic success. Here are some key tips:

DJUSD is creating a Graduate Profile as part of our efforts to review Board Policy on High School Graduation Requirements. A Graduate Profile is a document used to specify the cognitive, personal, and interpersonal competencies that students should have when they graduate high school in order to be successful in the 21st century. Take the short survey and give your input today at Graduate Profile.

Athletics Update

Say goodbye to the 10-page paper packet! The Athletic Department has rolled out a new system for the 2017-2018 school year. Information on how to register will be provided in many ways including: digital communications, program planning meetings at all secondary schools, athletic parent meetings, open house and other informational meetings that take place this spring. Please find a detailed instruction sheet of how 9-12 grade students will register for athletics at http://dshs.djusd.net/athletics

City of Davis H Street Improvement Project – Detour Update

The H to F Street bike/pedestrian pathway, near the Little League fields, re-opened on Monday, January 22. Due to continued construction on H Street, the Contractor and the City will keep the North ramp for the H Street tunnel closed. To assist with a safe crossing at H Street, a more visible crosswalk will be established on H Street at the south ramp to the tunnel. A fence will be set up along the west side of H Street for bike/ped traffic between this crosswalk and the H to F Street pathway. A crossing guard will be available during the morning and afternoon at this crosswalk to help negotiate the construction traffic. The fenced pathway will be narrow, so cyclists are advised to walk bikes between the H to F Street Pathway and the crosswalk near the tunnel.

As a result of the pathway re-opening, the detour that has been in place since the end of November will no longer be the main route for bike/pedestrian traffic. Therefore, the crossing guard will not be present at F Street and 11th Street starting 1/18/18.

As we move towards spring, more students will be walking and biking to school. Please talk to your student about safe practices during their commute. See the Tips for Parents for important information for you and your family.

Stop!T App in Use at all Junior Highs and High Schools

Last year, Davis Senior High School piloted the Stop!T app which allows students to anonymously report inappropriate behaviors or concerns. The program was expanded in the fall of the 2017-2018 school year to include all secondary campuses. DJUSD site administrators overwhelmingly support this system that allows students to report concerns anonymously as it has proven effective for allowing early intervention on matters that could become much worse with time. Stop!T app reports have included information about alleged bullying/cyberbullying, substance abuse, violence, weapon possession, threats, discrimination, inappropriate relations, and more.

Flu SeasonInfluenza cases have been on the rise in recent weeks. Signs and symptoms of influenza include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue. Stay home when sick - individuals who are sick with flu symptoms should stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicines, such as Tylenol.

School counselors in DJUSD work tirelessly to support children’s personal/social, academic, and college/career success. Take a moment during this week to reach out and thank them for their hard work. Click here for a list of your school counselors.

EVENTS/OPPORTUNITIES

Substance Use Information

Have you had conversations with your child about your expectations around drugs and alcohol? It’s never too early (or late). Research suggests your opinion is often what helps young people not to use drugs and alcohol. Visit How to Talk to Your Child about Drugs and 7 Tips for Today’s Parents for more information. To learn more about what is happening in DJUSD, join us for a Board of Education Study Session on February 15 at 7:00 pm at City Chambers.

Town Hall Meeting for Facilities Master Plan- February 6 and 7

DJUSD is inviting the entire Davis community to attend 1 of 3 Town Hall Meetings to develop a Facilities Master Plan. This document will help identify short-term and long-term facility goals for the district for the next 5-10 years. One meeting will be held on February 6 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Davis Senior High School. Two meetings will be held on February 7: one from 6:00-8:00 pm at Emerson Junior High and the other from 6:30-8:30 pm at Harper Junior High. Please attend the meeting closest to you or your attendance area.

Yolo Careers in Education Forum

The Yolo-Solano Center for Teacher Credentialing is hosting a forum for community members to learn more about job openings and careers in local school districts. The event is on Wednesday, February 7 from 5:00-7:30 pm at the Yolo-Solano Center for Teacher Credentialing. More information can be found on the Center’s Facebook Event page.

UCD Campus Recreation and the City of Davis would like to invite you to participate in the 12th Annual Children's Summer Activities Faire. In an effort to promote summer activities in Davis, interested local non-profit groups will have the opportunity to showcase their summer youth programs, answer pertinent questions and provide a craft or activity for children. If you have questions contact the Program Coordinator, City of Davis Parks and Community Services at (530) 747-5855 or emcneil@cityofdavis.org

Two Events at Da Vinci High School: 1929 Night and WWI Museum Night + Open House

Friday, February 23 from 6:00-8:00 pm, juniors at Da Vinci High School will showcase all they have learned about the Roaring Twenties. Come see their magazines and elaborate booths in this free event. If you have any questions, please email Kait Sangster at ksangster@djusd.net.

On Thursday, March 1 from 6:00-8:30 pm, sophomores at Da Vinci will put on World War 1 Museum Night. As the biggest project of the year for the sophomore class, students have created a museum that will be used to engage the public on the topic and importance of the First World War. The event also serves as Da Vinci’s Open House.

¡Intercambio! Language Exchange for Parents

¡Intercambio! Language Exchange for Parents began on Thursday, January 18, at Montgomery Elementary School. Want to learn Spanish? Want to learn English? Need to brush up on your skills in either language? Join ¡Intercambio! parent group and be part of the most fun and exciting community at MME. Jump in wherever you are and come whenever you can! More information can be found on the Intercambio Facebook page.

SAT Preparation Workshop

DJUSD Adult and Community Education provides an updated preparation course that will cover content from the new SAT in both the Reading/Language and Math sections. Test-taking skills and tips are also covered. Instruction will allow for small groups and individual support. Students are responsible for registering for the SAT test date of their choice at www.collegeboard.com. Registration deadlines are typically 1 month prior to the test date. Each four-week workshop is $90 and is from 6:30-8:30 pm every Wednesday. The four week workshops are as follows:

March 10 Test Date- Prep classes on February 14, 21, 28, and March 7.

May 4 Test Date- Prep classes on April 11, 18, 25, and May 2.

NEWS IN OUR SCHOOLS

Students Selected for NorCal Honor Band

Six Davis Senior High School students- Anna Li, Damian Murillo, Jun Kim, Ronja Keeley, Shivan Seneviratne, and Yilei Wang- have been selected to play in the NorCal Honor Band. Congratulations!

Korematsu Student Find Wonder in All

Students at Korematsu read “We’re All Wonders” with Principal Ponce and focused on the quote “I can’t change the way I look. But maybe, just maybe, people can change the way we see.” They also discussed the connection between Fred T. Korematsu and Auggie, the main character of the book.

Willett in Color!

Graffiti artist and Willett parent Tony Berger is in the process of painting the quad poles at Willett with positive character words. Thank you to Dr. Berger for donating his talent and time and to Davis School Arts Foundation for the grant to purchase the supplies!

Pioneer Students Learn from a Smoke Jumper

Anders Johnson, son of Pioneer Reading Specialist Tara Johnson, visited 2nd grade classrooms at Pioneer to talk about his job as a smoke jumper in Washington, the North Cascades Smokejumper Base. Students had read about smoke jumpers in the English Language Arts unit on Government.

Literacy Night at Montgomery Elementary

Students and families at Montgomery Elementary came together for Literacy Night to celebrate and launch our community read of the book “Wonder.”

Davis Senior High Solidarity Task Force

Students from the Student Solidarity Task Force at Davis Senior High gave a presentation to staff on January 10 on how they feel like they do or do not belong at DSHS, and how staff and students can collaborate to help improve the school. These students meet every week to focus on ways to make DSHS more inclusive, welcoming and respectful.

REMINDERS

We’ve Expanded Our Social Media!

Davis Joint Unified is now on Instagramand Twitter! Follow our accounts for more pictures and updates on our schools, and to see important news and messages.

Celebrate School Employees: #Love4DJUSDstaff

Help us celebrate the hard work of our teachers and other employees who work throughout our district to promote student learning. Our schools are special because of the people who work here. Share your thoughts and join the conversation on our Facebook site #Love4DJUSDStaff.

Library After-Hours in DJUSD: Free Computer and Internet Access

Our Library After-Hours program provides computer and internet access with support in English and Spanish for all DJUSD students and families.

Davis Senior High School Library:

Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5:15-7:30 pm and Saturdays from 10:00 am-Noon. The February calendar with specific help topics can be found here.

Montgomery Elementary Library:

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00-8:00 pm.

Internet Essentials

To enhance access for all families, DJUSD promotes a program for families of children who qualify for free/reduced lunch. Comcast Internet Essentials provides home internet service for $9.95/month and a home computer (desktop or laptop) for a one-time fee of $149.99 plus tax. This involves a simple application through Comcast. Support is provided, and there are no contracts or strings attached for families. More information is available here.

Public Information Office

Davis Joint Unified School District

530-757-5300 x149

DJUSD is committed to improving communications with parents and the broader community. All efforts will be made to ensure you receive timely updates bundled in a way to avoid overwhelming your Inbox. It is important to remember that DJUSD uses this SchoolMessenger tool for important news and updates as well as for Emergency Communications. If you have concerns about communications, please email communications@djusd.net.